Fire-bridge for boiler-furnaces



(No Model.)

J REAGAN FIRE BRIDGE FOR BOILER FURNACES.

ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES Mrs ST TES JAMES REAGAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIREQBRIDGE FOR BOILER-FURNACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,506, dated April13, 1897. Application 1119a December 26, 1896. Serial No. 617,092- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES REAGAN, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Penn sylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Insulated Fire-Bridges for Furnaces of Marine orother Boilers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a durable bridge which willeffectually resist the action of the intense heat to which it issubjected under heavy firing in the furnace and which will remain intactunder all conditions.

In furnaces, especially of steamships,where the bridge-wall is composedof fire-brick they are liable to become displaced by the slicebarstriking them in loosening clinkers and are often pushed up by the barinto the combastion-chamber, where theyimpede the draft and prevent aproper combustion of fuel. The trouble, expense, and delays involved inthe matter of bridge-walls in furnaces of steamships, where fire-bricksare used, are of considerable moment, inasmuch as the firebricks knockedloose in attempting to remove the adhering clinkers are often thrownoverboard with the ashes, thus necessitating the rebuilding of thebridge-Wall every time the ship arrives in port.

My invention consists of a sectional bridge plate provided on the uppersurface with a series of parallel grooves, channels, or depressions forthe lodgment of ashes and supported on the shelf running across thefurnace-flue separating the combustion chamber, with the open spaceunderneath packed with ashes. The plate is thus sandwiched betweenlayers of ashes, which are non-conductors of heat. Consequently it isinsulated and cannot be burned out, warped, or twisted, and, if properlyapplied, will remain intact for years or as long as the life of theboiler. The heat otherwise absorbed by the ordinary brick bridge-wallswill also be saved and the efficiency of the boiler increased.

Reference being made to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is avertical longitudinal section through the rear portion of a marineboilerfurnace and part of the combustionchamber, showing my invention applied.Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my invention removed from thefurnace-fine.

vertical section, enlarged, of -a portion of the grooved bridge-plate.Fig. 4 is a modification of the same. Fig. 5 is avertical longitudinalsection of myinvention as applied to furnaces of stationary boilers.

The plate A, Fig. 1, which extends across the f urnace-fiue and formsthe bridge proper, is provided on the upper surface with a series ofgrooves, channels, or depressions b, with intervening tapering ridges cto form receptacles for ashes. The grooves or channels I) may extendacross the plate in diiferent directions, but they are arranged,preferably, in parallel rows extending from front to rear edges ofplate, so that the top or apex of the ridges 0 form a suitable supportfor the slicebar or hoe and permit the same to slide freely over withoutdisturbing or dislodging the ashes. The said plate A is made in three ormore sections d d d of such dimensions as to be readily passed throughthe fire-door or other convenient opening, with their joining edgesoverlapping and secured by means of tap-bolts e, Fig. 3. By this meansthe firebridge may be erected or removed without dismantlin g ordisturbing any part of the boiler. Other methods may be adopted forjoining these sections to one another to conform to different types ofboilers, and in some cases it may be desirable to divide the fire-bridgeinto numerous narrow strips and connect the abutting edges of same bymeans of lugs formed at intervals along one edge, interlockin g withcorresponding sockets formed in the edge of the adjoining plate, asshown in Fig. 4.

At the rear end of each section d d d is formed a downward-projectingflange or foot f to support the bridge at any suitable angle upon theshelf or plate between the furnace and combustion-chamber of a marineOIlI1- ternally-fired boiler, or if it is desired to lay the plate flatthe foot is dispensed with.

When the bridge is to be inserted, the sections d d d are separated andpassed through the fire-door. The right and left hand sections cl and dare first placed in position and fine or sifted ashes packed underneaththem and in the space covered by the intermediate section d, after whichthe tap bolts are inserted and the whole held firmly together.

It will be observed that when the plate A Fig. 3 is a is embedded inashes heat cannot ascend to cause any damage from this direction, andwith the grooves filled with the same earthy or mineral particles theheat cannot penetrate from the top. Thus by the interposition of ashesor other non-conductors of heat the plate is insulated and fullyshielded from the fire. Any other substance which is a nonconductor ofheat may be employed forfilling underneath the plate and for thegrooves, but ashes are preferred as being the most suitable, as theywill remain sufficiently porous within the grooves to permit air to passthrough, and thus keep clinkers or vitrified matter loose at all times,so that it will not adhere to any portion of the plate and may be easilydislodged and pulled off with a hoe over the top of the fire, whereas inbridge- Walls of brick or other construction the clinker will knit fast,and to remove it the fire must be allowed to burn down, thus causing acorresponding loss of steam-pressure.

Fire-bricks can be set on edge against the flange f, which is beyond thepoint of formation of clinker, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, in or next tothe combustion-chamber, so as to be flush with the top of said plate,that when the hoe is used it Will not get fast, but will slide over thebricks and, resting on the ridges c of the plate, will be drawn forwardWithout disturbing the ashes in the grooves.

The plate may be made of various sizes and shapes,according to the typeof boiler in which it is to be used, and for stationary boilers it may,if desired, be extended back from the top of the incline for a shortdistance in a horizontal direction, as shown at A, Fig. 4, and backedwith fire-bricks, as previously described.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is- 1. An insulated fire-bridge provided on the uppersurface with a series of grooves, channels or depressions for theretention of ashes or other non-conductors of heat, and embedded insimilar substances, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. An insulated fire-bridge plate, A, composed of the sections d, d, (1and provided with a flange or foot, f, grooves, channels or depressions,b, and ridges, c, substantially as specified.

JAMES REAGAN.

Witnesses:

E. WARNER BONSALL, M. DEs GEORGES.

